Trade Facilitation Coordinator

Position: TRADE FACILITATION COORDINATORBase of Operation: HANOI, VIETNAMPeriod of Performance: ON OR ABOUT OCTOBER 2019 – SEPTEMBER 2020 (subject to extension based on manager’s recommendation)

Program Background:

The USAID Trade Facilitation Program is a five-year program that aims to support Vietnam to adopt and implement a risk management approach to the clearance of goods at Vietnam’s borders; simplify and streamline specialized inspection; and take steps to facilitate implementation of the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA).

More specifically, the Program will work with the General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC) to strengthen Vietnam’s National Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFC) and any working groups; streamline border clearance procedures (including specialized inspection (SI) implemented by other line ministries and agencies); harmonize the implementation of risk-based approaches between the national and provincial levels; train national and provincial customs officers and staff from other ministries on risk management; and facilitate dialogue between customs and business and between relevant stakeholders in Hanoi and in the provinces.

Overview

The USAID Trade Facilitation Program will provide assistance to the Government of Vietnam at both national and provincial levels. In order to achieve this, the Program plans to have trade facilitation coordinators in effect based in Hanoi but frequently travelling to and working directly with local Customs Departments at the provincial level. The trade facilitation coordinators will be required to cooperate with and support both public and private sector stakeholders to build capacity, increase engagement, implement policy and harmonize procedures and further the objectives of the Program. This will include customs and line ministry departments involved with clearance of goods, risk management and undertaking specialized inspection.

The USAID Trade Facilitation Program also aims to improve coordination between national and provincial levels while enhancing collaboration, cooperation and implementation at provincial and inter-provincial levels. The activities and tasks of the trade facilitation coordinators will be aimed at implementation of trade facilitation policies and procedures at the provincial level in a harmonized and effective manner and achieving a greater involvement and engagement of the private sector.

The primary role of the trade facilitation coordinators will be to carry out the tasks and activities in a designated province (this may also include working or collaborating with other members of the Program team and/or short-term technical inputs). The trade facilitation coordinators will work out of the Program’s offices in Hanoi but will be required to visit provinces as needed in order to cooperate and collaborate with all stakeholders including GDVC, local Customs Departments, line ministries and provincial departments and agencies with specialized inspection. The trade facilitation coordinators will also need to build relationships and work closely with private sector stakeholders such as business associations, traders etc.

As stated above, the USAID Trade Facilitation Program will initially work in six pre-selected provinces i.e. Hanoi, Hai Phong, Quang Tri, Da Nang, Dong Nai and HCMC. Trade facilitation coordinators will be responsible for each province and will be expected to travel frequently to the province they are responsible for (currently estimated to be approximately or at least two weeks in every month). They may also be required to travel to other provinces. The trade facilitation coordinators will be expected to implement all tasks efficiently, effectively and to the highest professional standards.

The program is currently seeking to fill the trade facilitation coordinator positions to be responsible for the following provinces: (i) Quang Tri, (ii) Da Nang, (iii) Dong Nai and (iv) HCMC. Special consideration may be given to candidates currently residing in any of these provinces.

Responsibilities and Tasks

The trade facilitation coordinator will support the following activities:

Contribute to the development and preparation of Annual Work Plans (AWP) with a focus on national-provincial communications and coordination, risk management, specialized inspection and other trade facilitation measures; and

Other work and contributions to the program as directed by the Program’s Chief of Party (COP), Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) and/or Senior Trade Facilitation Expert (STFE).

The trade facilitation coordinators will be responsible for undertaking all activities and tasks in their provinces as defined in the Program’s Annual Work Plan as agreed with GDVC, including the following:

Assist to establish a functioning effective national-provincial cooperation structure aimed at customs and line ministries for trade facilitation policies;

Assist the national-provincial cooperation structure to review, prioritize, and implement trade facilitation policies, measures and procedures as related to risk management and specialized inspection, so as to harmonize implementation;

Initiate and support technical skills training and learning for customs officers and operational staff from other line ministries; and

Assist GDVC and local customs departments to develop and maintain effective working relationships with key personnel staff in other beneficiary institutions i.e. line ministries and departments, and to further develop, enhance and promote customs-to-customs; customs-to-government agencies; and customs-to-business cooperation, consultation and partnerships.

Qualifications

Bachelor degree in economics, business administration, international trade, trade policy, law, customs administration, or similar field;

Minimum 3 years of experience working with Vietnamese government at central and/or provincial levels;

Proven experience of working or collaborating with the private sector;

Proven knowledge and understanding of requirements under the Customs Law, border procedures, risk management, specialized inspection matters, government economic policies including Resolutions 19 and Resolution 02/2019, the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement and the general political and economic environment at provincial level;

Able to solve problems as well as exercise considerable analysis and judgement to identify solutions;